Journal Entries
Life Happens
Posted Mar 31, 2009
As the saying goes, "life is what happens while you were busy making other plans."
Best regards to friends (if any remain) at h2g2.
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Latest reply: Mar 31, 2009
Kofi Annan's Farewell Thoughts
Posted Dec 12, 2006
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/10/AR2006121000768.html
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Latest reply: Dec 12, 2006
Thanksgiving
Posted Nov 23, 2006
Today (23 Nov '06) is Thanksgiving Day here in the US, a day when we are encouraged to count our "blessings," whether devinely bequeathed or not, and be grateful for them. Among the many blessings for which I'm grateful today is the opportunity I've had this year to become an h2g2 researcher and thereby make the acquaintance of many nice people from many different parts of the world. It has been educational, interesing, and fun, mostly. To anyone reading this, wherever you are, I hope you have some things to be thankful for, too. I'm off now to join some friends in the local area and then to overindulge sinfully. Penance later ... much later.
Peace
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Latest reply: Nov 23, 2006
The Dog in the Pickup Truck
Posted Nov 20, 2006
Anyone needing a definition of pure, unadulterated pleasure should watch a dog riding in the back of a pickup truck. Anyone having observed this phenomenon can have little doubt that dogs, as a rule, thoroughly relish the experience; their pleasure is palpable from their every movement and expression. One senses that there are few things the dog would rather be doing.
But does the dog understand the inner working of the truck that gives it so much pleasure? Obviously not. Does this mean that the dog is defective? Obviously not. The dog is a perfectly good dog; it can fetch, chase rabbits, chew bones, roll over, herd sheep, and all the other things that dogs do. But it has no concept of an internal combustion engine, nor does it need such as concept to enjoy riding in the truck.
The fact that the dog does not understand internal combustion engines, however, does not mean that internal combustion engines cannot be understood; it simply means that dogs' brains have not evolved sufficiently to allow them to understand such things. The brains of human beings, by way of contrast, have evolved sufficiently that we can, and do, understand the workings of internal combustion engines.
When it comes to understanding the inner workings of the universe at large, however, we humans find ourselves in much the same situation as the dog in the pickup truck. Much as we relish our little ride, we have only the flimsiest grasp of how the universe works, much less how to control it, if indeed it can be controlled.
Of course, this does not mean that the universe cannot be understood; it may simply mean that our brains have not yet evolved sufficiently to encompass such as understanding. Perhaps if we exercise our brains vigorously they will continue to grow and evolve until some day we finally will understand the Big Bang and other mysteries that currently inspire and challenge us .... which is all the more reason to strive diligently toward that goal, humbly perhaps, but optimistically. Today, pickup trucks; tomorrow, the universe. And in the meantime, we may as well enjoy the ride!
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Latest reply: Nov 20, 2006
MLK Memorial Groundbreaking
Posted Nov 12, 2006
I'm thrilled almost beyond words to have a ticket to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial on Monday, 13 November 2006.
Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream "... that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"
It is a dream that I'm proud to share.
http://www.mlkmemorial.org/
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
Would it be too ambitious to dream that some day this creed could become the creed of all nations and that the dream could become a reality?
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Latest reply: Nov 12, 2006
JCNSmith
Researcher U5174307
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